Short but Sweet 3 Miler

This morning’s run just clicked. Everything went according to plan and it was brilliant.

I woke up before my alarm, awake and ready to run. This hardly ever happens!

It wasn’t raining or snowing. In my mind these are real reasons to skip a short mid-week run. Last year whilst marathon training, I would do my long runs no matter the weather, but with short runs, I am a bit of a wuss!

The sun was rising and the river looked beautiful. I love running along the river, particularly when it is so peaceful first thing in the morning.

I ran fast(ish). My legs just seemed to get into gear straight away, and without thinking about my pace at all I ran an 8.54min mile average. For me that is super fast, especially for an easy run! I only just managed to get my 5K PR to 26.07 and yet my easy run today was 3 miles in 26.48! Speed work is paying off! Time to sign up for another 5K.

RunKeeper sent me a lovely little congratulations for logging my fastest ever run! How cute is this. I love the little chart they sent me, saying that my speed was in the 70th percentile, and that the median speed of runners was 10.19min miles. Not sure that I agree with them about going ‘excessively fast’, but I was pleased!

Plus I came back and the Daffodils on my kitchen table were in full bloom- gorgeous!

Talking of speed work, I didn’t do any whilst training for my first marathon last year and now I wish I had. Speed work is really working to increase my pace. It is also a great way of getting a short, intense workout in before work or on a lunch break. I’ve recently downloaded these short ‘Super Sessions’ from realbuzz, they are great for making a note of and keeping in your gym bag for quick treadmill sessions, or if you wanted to do a speedwork session outside but don’t have access to a track.

Do you have any other speed workouts you would recommend? Do you do speedwork? If so, do you do it on a treadmill or ourside?

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Hi, I'm Charlie a marathon runner and fitness junkie from London. This blog aims to 'pace the way to healthy without missing out on any of the fun'. For questions or press email me at charliewatson88@hotmail.co.uk.